It’s day one of York’s Dante Festival on Wednesday 14th May and the action will take place in front of the ITV Racing cameras. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers has delved through the form guides and picks out his three bets bets across the live terrestrial action.
2:10pm York – Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap
It’s a hugely competitive start to the meeting with the 2:10pm likely to throw up a wide open betting heat, but the deadly duo of William Haggas and Tom Marquand can take the prize with THE REVEREND, who could prove to be a lot better than his current official rating of 95 and he can win this contest on his reappearance.
He rocketed into the limelight when storming to victory over the classy duo of French Duke and subsequent Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros in an Ascot handicap off a mark of 86, but he since followed up with disappointing runs at York and Doncaster. Both of those runs came in testing going, so he could be seen in a much better light in quicker conditions on Wednesday and he could be a horse that still has some improvement in him and he can land this one-mile-and-a-half curtain-raiser in style.
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2:42pm York – Churchill Tyres Handicap
Richard Fahey’s RAMAZAN has racked up some big race performances throughout his career with second placed finishes in the Great St Wilfrid, Victoria Cup and Ayr Gold Cup all on his CV, but the five-year-old can finally get a big named victory and land glory in the Churchill Tyres Handicap, which is off at 2:42pm.
He has failed in recent times to reach those dizzy heights, but his handicap mark has been tumbling after recent poor runs, however, he’s been given a notable chance by the handicapper in this event. Rated 107 at his peak, Ramazan takes his chance off a mark of 97, so if he can recapture any of his old form then he must stand a huge chance in this hugely competitive 6f sprint handicap.
3:13pm York – 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes
Kevin Ryan’s INISHERIN was one of the star three-year-old sprinters last season and showed his class when romping to victory in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. He failed to follow up when beaten in the July Cup and Sprint Cup, but a return to Group 2 company on Wednesday at York for the Duke Of York Stakes can see him bounce back to winning ways.
Likely to be using this as a stepping stone to Royal Ascot next month, the four-year-old will make his seasonal reappearance in this contest, but can prove to be a class above his rivals. Night Raider and Elite Status look to be the two main dangers, but if the Inisherin of the first half of last season can produce his best then he’s undoubtedly the best six-furlong horse in the contest and he can sprint to victory on the Knavesmire.
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